A career as a Dermatologist Profession Example

Dermatologists are doctors responsible for recognizing and treating skin, hair, and nails. Hence, their patients consist of all ages. This type of doctor needs to be able to identify and treat over 3,000 medical conditions and ailments. They can pinpoint symptoms of internal diseases that first appear on the skin, such as different liver conditions and cancer.

They also know how to manage cosmetic skin issues like acne, hair loss, and scars. These doctors work in clinics and hospitals like most doctors and spend most of their day working with patients and co-workers. Their average day can range from 10-12 hours, sometimes 2-3 hours on the weekend, with appointments booked with around 60-70 patients per day.

A dermatologist might diagnose and treat melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer, perform surgery, and remove a young child’s birthmark that threatens their eyesight, all in one day. Dermatologists are self-employed, meaning they usually work alone or in group practices with other health care specialists. Others work for hospitals, clinics, and colleges as professors while teaching medical students and researching.

I would like to work in a clinic instead of college. Dermatologists require general medical skills, surgical skills, and interpersonal skills. Some of them study ways to prevent skin conditions like malignant melanoma, a kind of skin cancer. Other parts of the job include emotional support, surgery, teaching medical students, and pediatric dermatology.

They need at least 11 years of post-secondary education and training. Requirements include a four-year bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, and three or four years in an assigned residency, depending on which state you are in.

You must be admitted to medical school and a dermatology residency program to acquire the expected education. Both are highly competitive, with bright, ambitious students fighting for a spot in the class. In addition to having a completed education, a dermatologist may also have to pass additional exams to become certified.

Many different Universities are known for their medical programs. Some of the best dermatology schools include Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California San Francisco, and Emory University. I want to attend a good university, but high-grade medical school matters even more.

A doctor makes around $313,000 annually, but dermatologists get paid a salary of $100,000 – $300,000 per year, depending on training and qualifications. Dermatology residents get paid $50,000 – $70,000 with the requirements of a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and acceptance into a residency program. At the same time, they are responsible for treating patients, but only under the supervision of a licensed dermatologist.

An attending dermatologist gets paid more because they have completed more training, qualified for different licenses, and so on with the Department of Head and the Chief of Dermatology. Just by being a doctor, you have benefits like job security, a good salary, and the satisfaction of positively impacting people. Though health insurance and a retirement plan are not guaranteed, most employers will offer dermatologists hard benefits. Almost every dermatologist starts off as a Dermatology Resident and is paid $50,000 – $70,000 per year.

They have their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, were accepted into a residency program, and can treat hospital inpatients under the supervision of licensed dermatologists. Then, once a Dermatology Resident is licensed by their state, certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and completes their residency, which takes a minimum of 3 years, they become an Attending Dermatologist.

Then they can teach and supervise medical students and dermatology residents while diagnosing and treating patients. So with more responsibility, this level of dermatologist gets paid $200,000 – $400,000 per year. One of the last advancements this type of doctor can take is becoming a Department Head or a Chief of Dermatology.

They are responsible for running clinical research, teaching programs, running the dermatology department, overseeing attending physicians, managing the departmental budget, and supervising, hiring, and evaluating personnel while getting paid $300,000 – $500,000. Every doctor needs the desire to help others, along with compassion, commitment, and empathy. Working with others is also a significant skill in a hospital because you’re constantly surrounded by others. Whether a receptionist, nurse, or surgeon, a single doctor still needs co-workers to help a patient.